Commerce Title Building, Memphis

Creators

Preview

Source Collection

Alan Karchmer collection, Special Collections Department, University of Memphis Libraries

Identifier

16_11.A

Description

Commerce Title Building, 12 S. Main, Memphis, Tennessee. Built in 1904 & 1915. Photographer: Alan Karchmer. © Alan Karchmer.

Now absurdly defaced at the ground floor, this structure embodies early concepts of dealing with vertical expression of tall structures. Like a column, it is composed of a base, shaft, and capital.

At the beginning of this century increasing urban density and escalating land values provided impetus for the evolution of the skyscraper. The development of steel skeleton construction and high-speed electric elevator made this truly American building type possible. While the Porter Building was Memphis' first, soaring an impressive eleven stories, it was soon overtaken in size by many others built during the post-WW I boom.

Date Created

2021

Date

undated

Recommended Citation

"Commerce Title Building, Memphis" (2021). Images. 22.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-mss-karchmera2/22